FACULTIES OF PARROTS. 



89 



food. In general it obtains, that whatever fruit or 

 grain these birds chiefly feed upon, their flesh 

 partakes of the flavour, and becomes good or 

 ill tasted, according to the quality of their particular 

 diet. At the season when the guava is ripe, they are 

 fat and tender ; if they feed upon the seed of the 

 acajou, their flesh contracts an agreeable flavoiur of 

 garlic ; if their repast is the seed of spicy trees, 

 their flesh then tastes of cloves and cinnamon ; 

 while, on the contrary, it is insupportably bitter if 

 the berries they feed on are of that quality. The 

 seed of the cotton tree intoxicates them in the 

 same manner as wine does man ; and even wine 

 itself is drank by Parrots, as Aristotle assures us, 

 by which they are rendered more talkative and 

 amusing. But of all food, they are fondest of 

 the carthamus, or bastard saffron ; which, though 

 strongly purgative to man, agrees perfectly with 

 their constitution, and fattens them in a very short 

 time. 



Of the Parrakeet kind in Brazil, Labet assures us, 

 that they are the most beautiful in their plumage, 

 and the most talkative birds in nature. They are 

 very tame, and appear fond of mankind ; they seem 

 pleased with holding parley with him ; they never 

 have done ; but while he continues to talk, answer 

 him, and appear resolved to have the last word : 

 but they are possessed of another quality, which is 

 sufficient to put an end to this association ; their 

 flesh is the most delicate imaginable, and highly 

 esteemed by those who are fonder of indulging 

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